Indicator apparatus for indicating an egress point

Abstract

An indicator apparatus for indicating an egress point of a building is provided. The indicator apparatus includes an indicator light, and a connector member with first and second ends, at least one connector element and a manipulatable member, where the connector element is used for securing at least part of the connector member in a position such at least a portion of the connector member forms a continuous loop. The indicator apparatus also includes a releasable securing element that is connected to the connector member for securing the manipulatable member in a stowage configuration. The connector member being formed such that when the manipulatable member is in a use configuration, the manipulatable member can be fed through the egress point of the building so that the indicator light indicates the egress point.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An indicator apparatus that is used for indicating an egress point of a building, the indicator apparatus comprising
 a connector member that includes a first end and a second end that is releasably connectable to the first end for forming a continuous loop from at least a portion of the connector member, at least part of the connector member being manipulatable between a stowage configuration where the connector member has a first length, and a use configuration where the connector member has a second length that is greater than the first length;   a releasable securing element that is connected to the connector member for securing the at least part of the connector member in the stowage configuration; and   an indicator light that is connected to the connector member for indicating the position of the egress point.   
     
     
         2 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member includes a securing part that positioned along the length of the connector member, away from the releasable securing element; and wherein the releasable securing element is releasably connectable to the securing part for securing the part of the connector member in the stowage configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the connector member includes at least one connector element and a manipulatable member, wherein the at least part of the connector member that is manipulatable between the stowage and use configurations is the manipulatable member. 
     
     
         4 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the manipulatable member is composed of a length of a manipulatable material that is formed as one of a strap, a belt, or a rope. 
     
     
         5 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one connector element includes the first and second ends of the connector member such that the portion of the connector member that forms the continuous loop is defined on the at least one connector element. 
     
     
         6 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the indicator apparatus is for use on a ladder that is positioned proximate the egress point of the building; and
 wherein the at least one connector element is sized such that when the first and second ends of the connector member on the at least one connector element are connected to form the continuous loop, the continuous loop of the at least one connector element will fit around a rung of the ladder.   
     
     
         7 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one connector element is a carabiner; and wherein the first end of the connector member is defined by a nose of the carabiner and the second end of the connector member is defined by a gate of the carabiner. 
     
     
         8 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a cinchable loop that is attached to one of the connector member and the releasable securing element, wherein the cinchable loop is sized to be fit over and secured around a doorknob and/or a doorhandle of the building. 
     
     
         9 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second ends of the connector member are defined on opposing ends of the manipulatable member; and
 wherein the at least one connector element is connected to at least one of the opposing ends of the manipulatable member for releasably connecting the opposing ends of the manipulatable member when forming the continuous loop of the connector member.   
     
     
         10 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one connector element is a single connecter element that is mounted to a first end of the manipulatable member of the connecter member and that is structured to releasably connect to a portion of the manipulatable member that is spaced apart from the first end of the manipulatable member for forming the continuous loop of the connector member from at least part of the manipulatable member. 
     
     
         11 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the releasable securing element is positioned on the connector member such that when the opposing ends of the manipulatable member are connected and the manipulatable member is in the stowage configuration, the form of the manipulatable includes a first looped segment, and when the opposing ends of the manipulatable member are connected and the manipulatable member is in the use configuration, the form of the form of the manipulatable includes a second looped segment having a size that is greater than a size of the first looped segment. 
     
     
         12 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the manipulatable member of the connector member is structured such that in the use configuration, the entirety of the manipulatable member defines the continuous loop of the connector member, and the second looped segment is defined by the entirety of the continuous loop of the connector member. 
     
     
         13 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the releasable securing element is positioned on the connector member such that in the stowage configuration, the opposing ends of the manipulatable member are positioned along the first looped segment of the manipulatable member, and in the use configuration, the first and second ends of the manipulatable member are positioned along the second looped segment of the connector member. 
     
     
         14 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the indicator apparatus is for use on a ladder that is positioned proximate the egress point of the building; and
 wherein the releasable securing element is positioned on the connector member such that in the stowage configuration, the first looped segment of the manipulatable member will fit around a rung of the ladder, and in the use configuration, the second looped segment of the manipulatable member will also fit around the rung of the ladder.   
     
     
         15 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one connector element includes a first connector positioned proximate the first end of the manipulatable member and a second connector positioned proximate the second end of the manipulatable member. 
     
     
         16 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid looped member that is attached to the connector member, wherein the indicator light is connected to the connector member loop via the rigid looped member. 
     
     
         17 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the releasable securing element is a Velcro securing flap and the securing part is a length of Velcro. 
     
     
         18 . The indicator apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator light is detachable from the connector member. 
     
     
         19 . An indicator apparatus for placing through an egress point of a building to indicate the location of at least one person therewithin, the indicator apparatus comprising
 a connector member that includes a first end and a second end that is releasably connectable to the first end for forming a continuous loop from at least a portion of the connector member, at least part of the connector member being manipulatable between a stowage configuration where the connector member has a first length, and a use configuration where the connector member has a second length that is greater than the first length;   a releasable securing element that is connected to the connector member for securing the at least part of the connector member in the stowage configuration; and   an indicator light that is connected to the connector member for indicating the position of the egress point.